Mailing envelope



April 1l, 1944. N. F DLJNLQP` l MAILING ENVELOPE 2 'sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2s, '1942 A TTORNEY April 11, 1944. N. F. DUNLOP MAILING ENVELOPE Filed Jan. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /VEWELL f." 00A/L op BY W " ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 11, 1944 .UNITED, STATES PATENTy OFFICE MAILING `ENvLoPE Y l Newell Dunlop, San Francisco, Calif. application January 26,1942, serial No. 428,264

`3 Claims.

, This invention relates V to mailing envelopes, and particularly to envelopes of the type `which provide a front and a back wall which have unbroken surfaces and which ,are relatively connected at certain edges and disconnected at other edges and having other particularly advantageous features, including a so-called sealing flap whereby the open pocket of the envelope may be closed.

The envelope of the invention may take several advantageous forms, one of which wherein the two overlying walls which may be designated a front wall and a rear wall present unbroken surfaces of substantially the same area and shape. so that the two walls overlie a substantially similarplane; another advantageous form of structure is provided, wherein the `so-called sealing .flap is arrangedand designed to eliminate difculty in inserting the' flap within the envelope. Among the objects of `theinvention are to provide an envelope which has its front wall and its back wall comprising unbroken surfaces and overlying the same plane in areav and shape, so that when the envelope is closed, either by sealing or by loosely folding the sealing flap therein, the front and back surfaces of the walls present the same general appearance,-this being particularly advantageous for use of lthe envelope for advertising purposes wherein the entire surface ofthe front and back walls may be lithographed vor.A printed, except for the space for address.

A further object is to provide an envelope in which the sealing flap'is so designed that the folding thereof within the envelope is facilitated by vtlieshape and contour of the edge of'said sealing flap 'adjacent to the longitudinal ends thereof. r

A further object, in connection withvthe foregoing, objects, is to provide an envelope with an infolding sealing flap wherein the open edge of the envelope pocket may be sealed with the sealing iiap infolded within the envelope without interfering with the unbroken outer surfaces of the front and rear walls.

A' further object is to provide what is known asa postage-saver envelope, wherein the two parallel longitudinal edges of the envelope are closed and one end thereof is sealed, the other end remaining open and being provided with a flap which may be infolded to hold an enclosure in theenvelope and yet prevent theenvelope from being sealed at that end, whereby a cheaper postage rate maybe available. l With the foregoing and other objects in view, all .of which vwill be more particularlydescribed with their advantages in this specification, the invention consists in` the partsv and combinations of parts herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that variations in size, proportions, form and degree may be resorted to within the scope of appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention. j

In the accompanying drawingsjwhich is hereby referred to as a part `of this specification- Fig. 1 is a plan View of an envelope blank for one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one face of the envelope of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an envelope blank of a modified form of the invention.`

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of one face of the modification shown in, Fig. 3.4

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical end view partly in section on line V-V of Fig. 4. Y

Fig. 6 isa plan view'of an envelope blank of another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 'lis an end view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8j is a plan view of an envelope blank of another modified form ofthe invention similar in character to Fig. 1, showing modification of sealing iiap. Y

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of one face of the modification shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of an envelope blank of a modied form of the invention 1similar in charcter to Fig. 3, showing a modification of sealing Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevation view of envelope from the blank of Fig. l0, one wall being turned back to show detail of structure.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of an envelope blank of a modied form of the invention similar in character to Fig. 6, showing a modification of sealing flap.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary `view of one end of sealing flap.

Fig; 14 is a perspectiveviewwith open top of envelope pocket spread, and the sealing flap of Figs. 8 to 13 partially inserted in the envelope pocket.

Referring to the drawings in whichlike reference charactersindicate corresponding parts in the several views, 20 indicatesgenerally a form of blank for making an envelope and 2| indicates an envelope after the blank form has been folded and its respective parts connectedjin envelope forming relation. f Referring to Figs. ly and2, the blankzo is pro.

vided With a portion 22 which forms a front Wall, a portion 23 which forms a back wall, the front wall and back wall being of substantially the same area and shape so as to provide unbroken surfaces on both front and back faces of the completed envelope, this being particularly advantageous for lithographing both faces of the envelope when it is in flat, blankforrn, and providing a completed envelope having similar appearance at bptlfr vits faces when the sealing flap, hereinafter described, is folded Within the envelope. One of the Walls, 22, 23, preferably the front wall 22, is provided at its opposite ends. with side aps 24, one face of which is provided with an adhesive Wash, or gurnmed as indicatedv by stippling, so that the Walls,r22, 2,3, mayv be folded along the line 25 into overlying. envelope. forming relation and be secured at the ends in that position by the adhesived or gum-ined side, flaps 24.. The front. Wall 22 is provided at the upper longitudinal. edge.. whieh ie. in reality en edge ofthe opening of the, envelope pocket, with a sealing flap 2li,y which may.. if desired, be summed alone.. a narrow strip adjacent its edge. as at 21,: the sealing ap 26 being capable of being folded down on the fold-line 28, and thus the envelope in Figs.. 1 and 2 may be employed for either folding the sealing flap Within the enve-v lope in what is, sometimes. Called in the. trade an unsealed indieia envelope... Q1 the.` Sealing, ep Zhi-may be employed. in the usual manner by wetting the gummed strip, 2 1' and' gluing it to the outer face of the Ida? Wall 2,3 for sealing the envelope in what is referred to, in relation to postal rates, as a first. class envelope, Itis preferred that the opposite ends ofthe sealing. flap portions be provided with an angular break in its edge adjacent the.v end,y so as to provide a shoulder 29 which wi1l more deeply or completely close the end of the envelope.. at. its upper, open edge; that is` toT say, with relation to the longitudinal fold-line.. 28. which delineates the junction of the front face andthe sealing flap, The free edge f the sealing flap is. at. al substantially and considerably greater degree of angularity between the line. 28 andthe` shoulder 2.9; than the degree of angle of the free edge of' theA sealing flap between the shoulder 2.9. and its peakn portions 30. In other Words, if; the angle of' incline of the free edge betweenv peak 39. and shoulder 2,9.. were. prometedor. extended, it would intersect thebasefold. lille.. 2.8 beyondthe edge of the front and rear walls which dene the length.V .of the envelope whenforrned. Thus, when theseal'- ing fiapvAis folded down within the envelope as in FigjZ, thereisa subst.antial` width. at the ends of the sealingl flap 2.6. which either lies within the envelope, in. casef of an. infold. of. the flap 26, or overlies the outsideA of the. envelope at the end portions in the event that it is desired to employ the envelope by sealing the. flap 26 on the outside of the rear face 23. While the.y shoulder 29 is referred to as.. an` angle,v it, is to be understood thatthe apex of thejangle, rnay be trimmed. to present a rounded edge..

In Figs. 3, 4, and there is disclosed a type of envelope blankl 20.. and. completed envelope. 2| len'own'in thetrade as: a postage-saver type due to thefact that at leastI one-end of the, envelope remains unsealed but may be semi-closed by an, integral side. flap 24D- foldable. on line 24o, thev free endl ofjvvhich may. be inserted within the envelope to prevent the contents thereof fron; sliding out, and, ofv course, may. be. withdrawn for postal inspection or removal of congummed, depending on Whether it is desired to have one end of the envelope sealed or both ends unsealed. But an adhesive may be placed on the flap 2da and still leave that end open by not wetting the adhesive when closing the envelope. It is common practice with the postage-saver type to place the contents of the envelope on the flatblank and then form; the envelope around the contents. In the postage-.saver typey of -Figs. 3 and 10 the flap 24h does not have any mucilage or gum thereon, preferably is of substantially greater width than flap 24a, being for the purpose of infolding into the envelope body after the contents have been placed in the envelope and thus loosely close that end of the envelope without sealing thereof.

4tlreenvelope blanks of Figs. 3, 6, 10 and 12, there is provided on the opposite sides of the blank 20strips of athin-wash of adhesive gum, 3| and 3-2, which are relatively parallel, one strip 32 being'y on the longitudinal marginal edge of the face Vo f back seat 23, which'becomes the inner face of the envelope. and the other strip of adhesive 3|, beingV on the opposite side of the blank and' long-itu'xlrlallyY of that portion of the sealing flap which adjoins the face Wall 22 at fold-line 23. The two strips of adhesive -3|, 32 are cooperative to form a seal rela-tive to each other but neither onev is effective to form a seal independentv of' the other. Such cooperative selfsealing vadhesives are well-known tothe art as dry adhesives, and one such solution is a rubber composition, another is a. latex, although any other suitable relatively cooperating dry-sealing adhesives I nay be used. No claim is'made herein for a particular type of dry-sealing adhesive as a part of' this-invention.

Eronjlrl'igs- '3, 6, l0 andyl-Zit Will' be noted that inV those exemplications of the invention employing the selfesealing adhesives 3|', 32 the side flaps 24, 24a and 24h are of substantially lesser length at their' connection. to Wall- 22 than the height dimension of the wall 22. This arrangement of structure providesl the. advantage of'v a short slotted openingIA 33L at theY end ofthe side edge.. ofthe completed' envelope sov that a paper cutter. may be. inserted therein for purposes of readily opening the envelope, As is well-known in opening envelopes.V which are sealed, it is customary to insert, a knife orv other paper cutter under a sealing flap which is, ordinarily on the Outside of the completed. and sealed envelope. But. such. an. outsidel iap,I or sealj breaks the surface of the outer face of the envelope, whereas in.thepresentinvention it isdesired to have1 both of. the outer faces unbroken, andtherefore there is. no outside, flap.. '12h15 slicing, of envelopes always takes .place from. a. side. edge.. as. a, practical matter.. Inasmuch. as. theaplj is folded withinthe envelope andgseal'ed therein` in' the structures of Figs. 6 and 1,2.,i and' inasmuch as theV two walls 2,2, 23 completely. overlie each other, itv Would be d ifcult toppen the closed envelope from its. side edgewith a paper-opener or knife, unless aconvenient means .were provided wherein the.. point of the paper-cutter orl knife could' be inserted into the envelope. ThisJ advantage is not so` necessary inthe postage-saver type of envelopes of.' Figs. 3.and'10', which have at least one end remaining openk as it, is in envelopes/of the. typev of Figs. 6andf12vwherein bothl of the ends.. of the. envelope, as well as; the longitudinal edges vare closed: The shortening of'Uthe side astenia flaps 124,' 24a 4is preferably attheb'ottom of the' sid'edge adjacent the' fo1dline25.\" r l' 'r fRe'ferr'ing to Fig.\6 there is provided'a blank' forl an envelope which may be termed an infoldz sealing type having the overlying front ,andv rear walls -r22,i 23 ofthe*sarhe`"area and shape so as to provide both outer wall surfaces as unbroken planes, the side iiaps 2d being gummed and being of less length than the side edges of the wall 22 and thereby providing small, unclosed side openings 33 for receiving 'the point of an envelope opener, when the envelope is sealed with the flap 26 infolded, and the two parallel gummed strips 3l, 32 cooperate to close the receiving opening of the envelope pocket.

In Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive there is disclosed a modified form of the envelopes disclosed in Figs. 1 to 'I inclusive, the modication consisting of forming each of the opposite ends of the free edge of sealing flap 26 in the nature of an ogee curve 4i, the purpose of which is to provide a smooth folding-in edge of the sealing ap of the envelope and preserving the closure eect of the shoulder 29 of the iiap 23 as previously de'- scribed. It will be noted particularly from the enlarged views of Figs. 13 and 14 that the angle of the shoulder 29 is slightly rounded and fades into the ogee curve 4l which connects with the edge portion of the iiap which extends to the peak 30. When it is intended to infold the flap 26 into the envelope, the normal manual operation spreads the upper unconnected edges of the envelope into a deformity which, in plan, is somewhat diamond-shaped, as shown in Fig. 14. This permits the peak 30 of the flap 26 to be inserted into the envelope. However, as the opening approaches the side edges of the envelope, the diamond-shaped opening becomes narrow and the shoulder 29 of the sealing flaps is obstructed in its entrance into the envelope. It is normally necessary to pass the fingers of the operators hands along the iiap 2B from one end to the other, so that the ends enter completely into the envelope. However, by the employment of the ogee curve 4i, it is only necessary to insert the peak 30 into the envelope, including the portions of the iiap adjacent to peak 30, which will bring the free edge of the wall 23 into contact with the commencement of the ogee curve 4I, so that the inherent resilient rebound or snap of the enve-- lope structure, when it is released from manual pressure, causes the i'ree edge 23 to travel along the ogee curve il and completely snap the flap into the envelope as the envelope ilattens itself when released from the manual pressure. The employment of this ogee curve ilv is especially adapted to envelopes which have the iront wall and the rear wall, such as 22, 23, of substantially the same area and shape to provide an unbroken surface to each wall, since in that type of envelope there is not the amount of free space to allow the infold of the flap 25. However, it is to be distinctly understood that the employment of this ogee curve is not specifically limited to types of envelopes having front walls and rear Walls as thus characterized, since the use of the ogee curve will find advantageous application in any type of envelope in which it is desired to employ an infolding sealing flap. While the flap 26 has been herein generally referred to as a sealing flap, such description is for purposes of identification and to distinguish it from the side iiaps, since it is obvious that when the iiap is employed as an infolded flap without sealing, it

doe's not become a sealing 'nap-inthe :ordinary sense in which that term is used in envelopes where'` the iiap seals to the outer wall of lthe rear lface of the envelope. Y.

.Having described theinvention, I'claim:

,f rl`.In an envelope" formed -from an integral blank of exible material and having a front wall and a rear wall relatively overlying and connected at their bottom edge and at their opposite ends to provide an envelope pocket open at an upper edge, a generally triangular closure ap connected to one of said walls and having a peak centrally intermediate the ends of its free edge and having its base connected to said one wall on a fold-line whereby said iiap may be folded into an overlying relation to at least a portion of said front and rear walls, the free edge of said closure flap being inclined from said peak toward the opposite side ends of said envelope at an angle of incline which would intersect the base line of the iiap beyond the side edges of the envelope if said lines were extended, said free edge of the flap having at its opposite ends an ogee curve providing a shoulder and an adjoining indent scallop, the shoulder portion being more nearly adjacent to the end of the sealing nap.

2. An envelope blank comprising an integral sheet of flexible material, and including a front wall portion and a rear wall portion, each of said wall portions being of substantially the same area and shape, and having unbroken surfaces adapted for overlying relation in a formed envelope by folding of the blank on a longitudinal line centrally thereof, said walls having side flaps which, in the envelope blank, extend beyond the plane of the wall portion, at least one of said side flaps having an adhesive surface whereby the front wall and back wall may be relatively connected for closure at an end to provide an envelope pocket open at an edge which carries a closure flap; and a generally triangular closure ilap portion integrally formed in said blank and connected at its base to one of said wall portions at said last mentioned edge, said closure ap having its base line substantially coinciding with the open edge of the formed envelope and being adapted for folding thereat to overlie a portion of the plane ofsaid front and rear walls when said walls are co-planar in envelope forming relation, the free edge of said closure ap having a peak centrally intermediate its ends and being inclined from said peak toward the opposite side ends of the envelope blank at an angle of incline which would intersect the base line of the iiap beyond the side edges of the front and back wall if said lines were extended, said free edges of the flap having each of the opposite ends of its free edge dened by an ogee curve providing a shoulder and an adjacent indent scallop, the shoulder portion being more nearly adjacento the end of the closure flap.

3. An envelope formed from an integral blank of iiexible material and having a front wall and a rear wall relatively overlying and connected at their bottom edge and having at the opposite ends flaps which in the envelope blank extend beyond the ends of said front and back walls and are adapted for folding inwardly to overlie the area of the front and rear walls when said walls are in envelope-forming relation, a closure ap having its base-line connected to one of said walls on a fold-line at the edge opposite the said bottom edge, whereby said flap may be folded into: an overlying relation to at least-'a portion of said, front and rear' Walls,` the' free edge; of,`

and converging upwardly' toward each other and away from said base-line at an angle of incline which would intersect the base-line beyond the side" edgesv of the envelope i-f said lines were 5 extended.

F. DUNLOP. 

